The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-04-22
MRS JAMES BROWN POTTER.
Interesting Story of How She Achieved
Prominence

Prominence.
From Washington Letter to the Chicago NetcS
The dramatic endeavor of Mrs. James Brown
Potter in Europe interests great many society
people here, where she first gained reputation,
or rather notoriety. Imet at the club the other
day gentleman of prominence who made
confession as to his connection with the Potter
boom.
Il had no idea it would turn out as it has, he
said, or might have thought twice before 60
ing into it. However no harm has been done
so far Mrs. Potter has gotwhat she was after,
chance on the public stage, and may turn
out well. I'm sure 1 hope so. Well, the
facts of the case are these: Mrs. Potter
came over to Washington as the guest OF
Mrs. Whitney to appear in private theatre
calls for the benefit of q charity. She came
with the expectation and intention of creating
sensation, of getting an advertisement which
would make her available as theatrical material
In other words, she had the stage fever, and
knew that if she could get notorety enough she
might appear in play as professional without
going through the hard school in which legiti-
mate actors have to study. The Russian Honey
moon was the play in which she appeared at
the National Theatre, and although the house
was crowded with fashionable audience, and
Mrs. Potter appeared at her best, she dld not
make any sort of a sensation. The honorS were
carried Off by Miss Riddle, the daughter OF
Judge Riddle, an ex-member of Congress from
Ohio, and young fellow by the name of Hub
bard, who has appeared in comic operas.
The CONCEhI
Mrs. Potter was disappointed and disguised
Through her manipulation the play was re-
peated at Baltimore, but she made no sensation
there. Then she got up charity entertain
ment at Mrs; Whitney's, at which the tickets
were $40 and sold only to invited guests. 1t was
announced that the creme de la creme of Wash
ington would be there and that the list of those
who attended would be printed in the newspa-
perS, so that every seat was sold 1t ism { often
one has the chance to get in the catalogue OF
the arstocracy for $40. Well, the British Min
ster's daughter played solo on the either,
member of the German Legation banged awhile
on the piano, two or three pretty girls sang love
songs, and Mrs James Brown Potter recited
poem Mrs. Whitney served champagne and
ices during the performance, and everybody
had good time but Mrs. Potter failed again
to create the sensation she expected.
The performance was on Wednesday night
On Saturday an army officer came to me and
asked if could not assist in working the Sun
day papers in the interest of Mrs. Potter, whose
husband was an intimate friend of his, he said,
and would be greatly gratified at any notice his
wife received. / wasn't in the swim, and asked
him to tell me about the Whitney entertainment
Ito give me some points to work on. He said
that Mrs. Potter read a pathetic poem of George
r. Sims, called 'Oster Joe, in the same line as
Hoods One More Unfortunate l had queS-
toned him some, and soon discovered that it was
notoriety the lady was after so suggested that
| write q communication accusing her of shock
ing the audience by reading an indecent poem
He was frightened and demonstrated. 1t would
never do in the world, he said. | argued with
him awhile and showed that such an attack
would bring every friend she had to her defense.
| convinced him that it would be the best sort of
an advertisement, but he would not consent to it
till he had consulted with Mrs Potter.
WORKING THE PlsPERs.
He jumped in cab, rode up to Whitneys,
and soon returned to say that Mrs. Potter was
not only willing to stand the racket but thought
it was splendid scheme. l then went to the
office of the Sunday Capital and asked the ed
itor if he had heard what a shock Mrs. Potter
had caused the aristocracy by reading poem
that was otf-coor at the Whitney reception. OF
course he jumped at the bait and was Topping
around in minute. He sent up and got copy
of the poem, interviewed Mrs Potter, who said
she had no intention to offend public sentiment,
and acted as if she was awfully sorry she had
committed such a horrible blunder. In the
meantime had seen the editors of the other
Sunday papers and the New York correspond
entS and got them all crazy about the insult
Mrs. Potter had offered to Washington society
Two Of the correspondents, the Sun and World
! believe, telegraphed the entire poem to New
York.
''There is one old hen here who writes for the
newspapers who is always smelling around for
a scandal. All the women correspondents were
mad because they had not been asked to the
private theatricals and were thirSting for
geance. had the old hen SEEN and within a
few hours there was not a woman correspond
ent but what knew that something disgraceful
had happened at Mrs Whitneys, but they could
not find out exactly what Everybody they
went to profeSsed ignorance, but it was believed
to be a studied attempt to keep the scandal out
of the newspapers. Some professional gossips
winked knowingly and gave the story shove,
so that before midnight there was the greatest
sort of a sensation, which Mrs. Potter gave a
color to by confessing naively that some people
might think the poem off color, but she had in
tended no harm, and it was such a touching lit
tie thing she did not think people ought to be
offended. Her part was very we'll played and
she enjoyed it, but 1 got scared at the excite
ment myself.
There wasn't ANYTHING wrong about ''Ostler
joe any more than there is with Hazel Kirke'
or nne-tenths of the plays on the stage, and the
people who heard it recited at Mrs. Whitneys
qua not suspect any Improperly III the papers
chimed in like the three old crows. Mrs Potter
was delighted. Within ten days every newspaper
had her name in it, and her recitation was dis
cussed at almost every dinner table in the land
Nobody ever had better advertisement and it
didn't cost cent 1t was the turning point of
her lfe.'